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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ghostwind" data-source="post: 381088" data-attributes="member: 3060">One of the biggest things I've noticed about the reviews on these boards is how fast someone is willing to take offensive when a review is posted that does not agree with their personal opinion or preconceptions.  There are a few things that should always be kept in mind when reading a review:* It should never be used as the sole piece of information used to make a decision on whether to purchase the product or not.* A review represents an opinion of a specific individual. The review may come across as being objective or it may not.  Regardless, it is still that person's attempt to convey his impressions about that particular product.* The reviewer is entitled to his opinion just as you are entitled to yours.  Neither opinion is right, neither is wrong.  If you disagree with the review, you should still respect the fact that this person has a right to his or her opinion.* Not everyone is a professional writer and can put their thoughts to paper in a manner that is clear and concise.One of the facts about the review database present here is that anyone who is a community member may place a review.  Just because you may disagree with it, is not grounds to lobby for its deletion or to leave flaming remarks as comments.  If their are factual errors in the review, by all means point them out so they can be rectified.  Reviewers are human and they do make mistakes.  But please point them out in a polite and courteous manner.  After all, would you want a person to leave a flaming comment on your review pointing out an error?  Most likely not.There has been many occassions where I have personally disagreed with a review that Psion, Simon, Joe or countless others have posted.  I've even disagreed with their comments. And I am sure they have also disagreed with mine.  However, I respect their right to post such a review and/or comments. Just as I hope they respect my rights and opinions.As far as I can tell, there is no reason why someone should be chastised for encouraging others to post a review on a product that they enjoyed.   After all, in a sense, that what a publisher is doing when they post a link to a review.  They are encouraging others to read the review, hopefully buy the product and tell others how much they enjoyed it.On the other hand, while a campaign to raise the rating of a certain product because you disagree with its average rating is certainly frowned upon, there is no way you can effectively decide who is or isn't a part of this campaign without performing a witchhunt. How do you decide what review should be deleted?  Based on its content?  What if the reviewer has no knowledge of this campaign and happens to post his at the same time as 6 others with roughly the same score?  What if his review lacks the "content" you personally feel should be present because he is not good with words?  Where do you draw the line?  You have to understand that the very issue that was addressed initially is part of the risk involved with having an open review policy.  You have to take the bad with the good and trust the moderators to monitor things properly.  Otherwise, close the reviews to staff only so the only issues that can be raised are with their reviews.</blockquote>

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